I feel like a really good author right now. Even if I am a terrible speller and don't know how to type correctly. I guess that is why Tech class and spell check exist. I am doing this chapter in 1st person Piper's POV. I will be also doing chapters with Leo's POV. Thanks to all who reviewed and enjoy Chapter 4. And if you want, read Operation Wizard, which I am co-writing with thisiscorinth. I would be VERY excited if you did that and go nuts, well, I am already insane to begin with...I do believe in Nargles. But you know what I mean. Now read peeps. I also want you review if you really want to. Thanks! Demigod out (I am a child of Hermes!). Peace.

-SAVE THE NARGLES

Two weeks later...

My fears strengthen when I rang the doorbell. I just got back from Greece, about a week and a half ago. I still had scars and bruises and I have glimpses of what happened to me. My hair was now really short. It caught on fire a couple of times. I still had the braids, but it was not choppy any more and it was about 7 inches of shorter than it was before. It was a boyish haircut, but it was shaggy so I could put in really tiny braids. I probably will grow it back, but I want to change. I have been wearing better clothes, and make-up to cover the scars on my face, even though they did not mar my beauty. I did take the extra measures of wearing eye shadow, mascara and lip-gloss. I did not turn into a girly girl (I will make her more tomboyish later, but I want you to realize that is dramatized by the mission. Kapheesh?) , I just want to hide the person who saw how terrible Gaea is.

I felt tired, even though I had gotten sleep the past week and on the plane ride. But my nightmares kept me awake half the night. Chiron said that I should go back to my dad's for the rest of the summer and maybe go to regular school. Mellie told me that he was shocked. I was on the news when I was in Rome and it mentioned me being in Greece. That seems already intimidating. He must have found the letter too. This might turn out badly. My friends at camp stay away from me, as I am more vicious. Only a few are still friendly. The only ones of my siblings that are nice are Mitchell, Lacy and surprisingly, Drew, who seems to understand not to tease me and that I need someone.

Worst of all, Jason decided to go back to Camp Jupiter. He is probably already dating Reyna. I like Reyna, even though I was jealous at first. Now I just realize that she was like Annabeth, tougher than steel on the outside, but softer in the middle, and needed friends and her other half. I understood why he wanted Reyna, but when Jason was telling me his sappy good-byes, I saw that he was being a bitch, even though it is not usually his character.

I will eventually get over it, but he should have just told me. I did not want to hear the mushy details. I am not someone who is mushy and hears mushy details. I still wanted him, but I knew that all my hard work to get him to be my boyfriend has all gone to waste. I had it in my grasp, but it was forced to loosen and he escaped.

So here I was, standing at the front door of the mansion, with my bags, my new look and a different perspective of the world. I had lost a lot. I saw things that will give me constant fears for the rest of my life. Those thoughts ran though my head as I rang the doorbell.

Mellie answered it right away. She pulled me inside, slammed the door shut and gave me a tight squeeze, taking my breath away. Coach Hedge hugged me too, being respectively quiet. That was probably the first time he ever was quiet like that. I took avanege of that and let them hold me quietly. I knew that they cared for me, and I knew that they would let me have my space. I let one tear drop, to show that I am human, but I dared not to let anymore come. One thing I am is tougher than Nemean Lion fur.

Then things got worse. I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I saw my dad coming down the stairs. Both Mellie and Coach Hedge let go. He had a look of confusion and emptiness on his face, in his eyes. I gave him an empty look; I have been getting good at those. He must of not have known what to say, because he gave me the stupidest comment.

"You cut your hair?'' He is in shock all right.

"Yes." I answered and went upstairs to my room, to escape the big talk for now. Why was I running away? I can stand up to anything. I have faced Gaea. I have brought back the dead. I been on the brink of death, but unafraid of it. But why am I scared now, after all I have been though? I collapsed on the bed, which looked unchanged. I saw that the key was gone, and the box, so he must of had gotten my letter. Great.

I pulled out my knife out of my jeans; I kept it strapped to my leg in public, and hid it in the empty storage area by my bay window. I kept stuff in there, stuff that I don't want anyone to know about. I unpacked my bag and put my old and new clothes in the closet. Lacy said she would send me some more that will not be too ridiculous. I pulled out a large T-Shirt and some plaid fleecy sweatpants. I laid out a green dress and some leggings and boots that would look OK with my snowboarding jacket and my bracelet for tomorrow. I fell on the bed again, and crawled in. My dad came in and stroked my head until I fell asleep.

I fell into a deep abyss, full of flashes of memories, seconds of my worst times coming and going nonstop. I kept hitting cliffs and I felt rocks and branches cut me. I could taste my own blood. I heard growls and shrieks and roar and yells from things as I zoomed past. The hole that I was falling though got tighter and steeper. My limbs and head hit the edges of the hole. I felt my bones break, stabs of pain from bruises and my vision get more foggy, tears fall out of my eyes. I wanted it to end. I woke up screaming. But I stopped. It was only a dream. The nightmare I have every night.

My dad ran into my room with Mellie close behind. Coach Hedge must still be sleeping. He can sleep though anything. I stopped crying. My dad looked confused. He never had to deal with fits like this. But Mellie came and gave me a hug.

"It's all right, Piper, It's all right." She kept muttering that until my breath steadied.

My dad was still standing in the doorway. He looked half asleep. Mellie told him to go back to sleep. He walked out of the room. Mellie left and came back with some hot chocolate. I took it and sipped it slowly until it was all gone. Mellie tucked me and kissed my forehead. Every night afterwards she was there, with hot chocolate. I felt as if she were my mother, even though I knew that Aphrodite was my real mother. But I sometimes wish that Mellie were my mother. She was being the loving mother I never had.

I bet that you guys are bawling after that. I wanted something really emotional to give to you, so here it is. I like doing emotions, I am good at it. Hoped you liked it. See ya, peeps.

-SAVE THE NARGLES